Supporting Your Young Reader

DiscoverySchool.com

by Cristina Latici, M.S.Ed.
Free-lance Writer and Former Teacher

As they enter the elementary grades, the initial thrill of reading often begins to wane just as a more formal approach to reading skills is introduced. In addition, children's growing interest in friends and the world outside of home — a typical aspect of development — may seem to distract them from reading. Listed below are tips to help keep reading in the spotlight.

Keep reading aloud.
Right now your child's ability to understand and enjoy more complex stories far exceeds his ability to read them by himself. Balance easy-to-read books he can enjoy on his own with more difficult ones that you read aloud.

Be a supportive listener. Your interested and involved presence is a key factor in helping your child master new reading skills. One-on-one practice, especially with someone who's loved and trusted, can decrease the performance pressure kids may feel reading aloud in school.
Give your child a library card.
Then familiarize her with the local library, teaching her how to use the card catalogue or do an electronic book search. The more kids can participate in choosing their own books, the more they'll come to see reading as an expression of their independence and autonomy.
Turn work into play.
Sounding out words or identifying and matching letters and sounds are essential reading skills. However, the work required by these challenging tasks can bog down a child's reading and muddy the meaning of a story. Practice skills apart from sharing books. While waiting on line or riding the bus, play an "I Spy" game of word, letter, and sound identification.
Incorporate reading into other activities.
Using reading skills to participate in a grown-up chore gives children a sure sense of accomplishment and pride. For example, ask your child to be assistant chef while you prepare a meal. Then choose a simple recipe and have him read it aloud. And if you let your child do the measuring, you'll slip in a math lesson as well.
Go with the flow.
Sports, clubs, hobbies — even favorite television shows — can be gateways into the wonderful world of books. Helping kids choose books that speak to their passions will motivate them to keep on reading.
Expect plateaus.
It's common for young readers to pause in their development and return to books that seem too easy for them. Yet, these plateaus provide the important opportunity for reading skills to solidify while children gain the sense of competence and confidence needed to tackle the next level.

As your child shifts gears into independent reading, offer a variety of reading materials. Boost her confidence with easier books she can read on her own, and motivate her with more challenging tales that you read aloud. Mastering the formal lessons of reading is hard work that shouldn't get in the way of enjoying a great story. Send your child the message that reading is not just an end in itself, but that it paves the way to all learning and opens doors to exciting adventures.